Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series examining the Power Five and top Group of Five teams for the 2019 college football season.

Almost exactly one year ago, a 19-year-old offensive lineman named Jordan McNair collapsed during an offseason conditioning workout at the University of Maryland. Less than two weeks later, he died, ultimately from heatstroke suffered that fateful day — but it took many months and multiple investigations for actual transparency about the events surrounding May 29, 2018, and the culture surrounding them to emerge.

Following a long administrative leave and a very brief reinstatement — followed by 24 hours of intense backlash and political pressure — head football coach D.J. Durkin lost his job for good at the end of October. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada served as the team’s interim head coach throughout a most tumultuous season, leading a group of players still grieving their teammate to a 5-7 record. Canada did...